Macbeth: Act 3, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 2 of Macbeth from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Macbeth’s Lady and a Servant. LADY MACBETH Is Banquo gone from court? SERVANT Ay, madam, but returns again tonight. LADY MACBETH Say to the King I would attend his leisure For a few words. SERVANT Madam, I will. He exits. 5	Lady Macbeth asks a servant if Banquo is already gone. When she realizes he has, she asks the servant to get Macbeth for a little chat.
LADY MACBETH Naught’s had, all’s spent, Where our desire is got without content. ’Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Enter Macbeth. How now, my lord, why do you keep alone, 10 Of sorriest fancies your companions making, Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Should be without regard. What’s done is done.	Macbeth comes along, and Lady Macbeth tells him to look more chipper and not dwell on dark thoughts, as "what's done is done."
MACBETH We have scorched the snake, not killed it. 15 She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth. But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep 20 In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, Than on the torture of the mind to lie In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave. 25 After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison, Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing Can touch him further.	Macbeth points out they've merely scorched the snake, not killed it. Macbeth compares Duncan's current condition preferable to his; at least Duncan doesn't have to worry about loose ends. (Right. Because he's dead.)
LADY MACBETH Come on, gentle my lord, 30 Sleek o’er your rugged looks. Be bright and jovial Among your guests tonight.	All right, Debbie Downer, says Lady Macbeth; just chill out there. You're going to need to turn that frown upside down at the banquet tonight.
MACBETH So shall I, love, And so I pray be you. Let your remembrance Apply to Banquo; present him eminence 35 Both with eye and tongue: unsafe the while that we Must lave our honors in these flattering streams And make our faces vizards to our hearts, Disguising what they are.	Macbeth says he will. And he tells his wife she should say a lot of really nice things about Banquo, flatter him, and maybe even flirt with him a little. That will help hide their guilt.
LADY MACBETH You must leave this. 40	Lady Macbeth tells him he has to stop talking about what they've done.
MACBETH O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives.	But Macbeth says that as long as Banquo and Fleance are alive, he's going to be paranoid. He can't stop these dark thoughts and his fear of being found out...and his worries about Banquo's son getting his crown.
LADY MACBETH But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne. MACBETH There’s comfort yet; they are assailable. Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown 45 His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate’s summons The shard-born beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note.	Lady Macbeth says they won't live forever, which leads Macbeth to say, "Hmm. That's true. In fact..."
LADY MACBETH What’s to be done? 50 MACBETH Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.—Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond 55 Which keeps me pale. Light thickens, and the crow Makes wing to th’ rooky wood. Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.— 60 Thou marvel’st at my words, but hold thee still. Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So prithee go with me. They exit.	Macbeth dodges her question, saying it's better for her to "be innocent" and not know his plans until they're accomplished and she can applaud him for it. Gee. It seems like Lady Macbeth no longer gets any say in her husband's affairs. Macbeth appeals to nature to let night's black agents do their thing, and then he exits with Lady Macbeth.